Return-Path: Delivered-To: alvarochf@traceseis.com Received: from cs510.bluehost.com by cs510.bluehost.com with LMTP id OFxgLpiW7mhz0Q0AWiBQxw (envelope-from ) for ; Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:29:44 -0600 Return-path: Envelope-to: alvarochf@traceseis.com Delivery-date: Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:29:44 -0600 Received: from see.rippling.com ([172.246.46.190]:51734) by cs510.bluehost.com with esmtps (TLS1.3) tls TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 (Exim 4.98.2) (envelope-from ) id 1v8jmK-00000003t87-0qMG for alvarochf@traceseis.com; Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:29:44 -0600 DKIM-Signature: a=rsa-sha256; bh=wo40s597LpYavGPM8lFMwyEIOTp3/rba8VM4YK8B6Gg=; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=see.rippling.com; h=to:cc:from:reply-to:subject:date:mime-version:content-type:list-id:list-unsubscribe:x-csa-complaints:list-unsubscribe-post:message-id:sender:x-sib-id:x-mailin-client:x-mailin-campaign:feedback-id:bimi-selector; q=dns/txt; s=mail; t=1760466571; v=1; b=R18/UTX3gCD6HxHi8td84yKjW74vSS9CBFmPlhaMdL+N2ravSBgzU85ZMKfLiqAGibso8hJ8 zzAspD4TCUoBCtjsNuSYBIbHhD0YHk+U9TzkwqtHdeII1NyzFRy9Utxja1dikzphQRi/kLCqBtd jyYkxIVBgXFBe1afbNS8KlCw= To: Subject: The SaaD state of affairs: How software sprawl slows down IT teams Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-------?=_18067-6363123380699" Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:29:31 +0000 Feedback-ID: 172.246.46.190:6348494_2594:6348494:Sendinblue From: The IT Factor by Rippling List-Id: NjM0ODQ5NC0yNTgyODkzLTEyMzM= List-Unsubscribe: , List-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-Id: <202514101829.ildkocr5aa0csjj@see.rippling.com> Reply-To: X-Csa-Complaints: csa-complaints@eco.de X-Mailer: Sendinblue X-Mailin-Campaign: 2594 X-Mailin-Client: 6348494 X-sib-id: 50BvEvGt4CUX4sB1BcujvRyqCbnBDVtFjjNDuI-mpl7u1rrX2HLePlGbCzDtq_KPQu2jpUU4dYpYeox_qau3RQpJnGZjpaN1te29CxI0iJ-eHXnA5RwRoIUqylMRRoBjz8uwMbGrTd6fRkfAgtJ5tVEoLQt33PaM9Z3zADA7FNFIWP9rJ9XVdKnzQBRg12aLF-Gb8Dr9dyvU6BEemWBwFYQXFx0mnPxtGOOT7zGw ---------?=_18067-6363123380699 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 **OCTOBER =C2=A02025** **Matt Lombardo** Editor As always, I=E2=80=99m still wishing a very happy Tuesday to IT pros one an= d all. But if I sound somber, it=E2=80=99s because we=E2=80=99re here to talk abou= t=C2=A0[SaaD](https://www.rippling.com/en-GB/lp/saad?rtlid=3D00QUd00000QcSf= RMAV). Software as a Disservice.=C2=A0 It=E2=80=99s a new name for a familiar problem. The endless proliferation o= f siloed point-solution software has found its way into just about every co= rner of every organization, and IT teams are well-acquainted with the time = that gets wasted trying to wrangle a bunch of tools and systems that don=E2= =80=99t cooperate.=C2=A0 And just like it=E2=80=99s taken over our professional lives, this week, it= =E2=80=99s taking over this newsletter. So welcome to the Disservice Dispat= ch. We=E2=80=99ve got a lot to cover.=C2=A0 Today=E2=80=99s agenda:=C2=A0 =F0=9F=97=B3=EF=B8=8F What hundreds of IT teams say are the biggest drains = on productivity;=C2=A0 =E2=9C=8F=EF=B8=8F A 5-minute self-assessment to help you benchmark your IT= maturity; =F0=9F=AA=9C And how to level up using our IT Ops Maturity Matrix.=C2=A0 We surveyed hundreds of IT pros to quantify how software sprawl was affecti= ng their day-to-day, and we=E2=80=99re SaaD to report that it filled *this*= report. Jeez. You know that feeling when=E2=80=A6 - A simple task turns into a multi-hour odyssey across a number of disconne= cted systems?=C2=A0=20 - When you're manually copying the same data into different tools because n= othing=E2=80=99s properly integrated?=C2=A0=20 - And when that leaves you constantly wondering if you missed something tha= t=E2=80=99ll come back to bite you later?=C2=A0=20 That's not just your Tuesday. That's everyone's Tuesday. The promise of SaaS was simplicity and speed. What we got instead is a moun= ting execution tax on every little thing. More tools, more manual work, mor= e time away from anything that actually moves the business forward. Strateg= ic work goes on hold while you play =E2=80=9CHuman API=E2=80=9D (a real quo= te that we got back from this survey).=C2=A0 [Read the full report](https://www.rippling.com/resources/it-operations-sur= vey-2025?rtlid=3D00QUd00000QcSfRMAV) to see how all this sprawl is being fe= lt across the industry. You might recognize your own experience in the data= .=C2=A0 So your systems don=E2=80=99t sync. You already knew that. Real question is= : what=E2=80=99s it costing you?=C2=A0 We built a 10-question IT Maturity Self-Assessment to help you benchmark wh= ere your team actually stands. You might be: 1. Drowning in spreadsheets (i.e., Manual)=C2=A0=20 2. Corralling rickety integrations (i.e., Siloed)=20 3. Firing on all cylinders (i.e., Fully Automated)=20 We=E2=80=99ll tell you which =E2=80=93 and if it=E2=80=99s one of the first= two, what to do about it.=C2=A0 The assessment takes 2 minutes and gives you a maturity score right away, s= o you know exactly where you stack up. [Measure your IT maturity here.](htt= ps://ste7galwmb2.typeform.com/to/hbmTU97R) Once you=E2=80=99ve got your score in hand, go a level deeper with the full= [IT Management Maturity Matrix.](https://www.rippling.com/blog/the-it-mana= gement-maturity-matrix-a-technical-framework-for-scaling?rtlid=3D00QUd00000= QcSfRMAV) It=E2=80=99s broken down across five critical domains for any IT = org: - Identity & Access=20 - Onboarding & Offboarding=20 - Policy Management=20 - Compliance=20 - End-User Experience=20 The matrix gives you a clear picture of where you're operating in each doma= in =E2=80=93 Manual, Siloed, or Fully Automated =E2=80=93 and what you can = do to level up. Beyond the benchmark, it=E2=80=99s a tactical roadmap for g= etting unstuck.=C2=A0 [Start climbing here.](https://www.rippling.com/blog/the-it-management-matu= rity-matrix-a-technical-framework-for-scaling?rtlid=3D00QUd00000QcSfRMAV) **Some light (on-theme) reading** --------------------------------- =E2=9C=85=C2=A0**SaaD**: SaaS vendors are hiking costs, fast ([The Register= ](https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/20/saas_license_negotiation_advice/))= =C2=A0 =E2=9C=85=C2=A0**SaaDer**: SaaS spending tough for CIOs to control ([The Re= gister](https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/02/saas_turbocharged_software_s= pending_tough)) =E2=9C=85=C2=A0**SaaDest**: SaaS sprawl keeps growing with no end in sight = ([CIO](https://www.cio.com/article/4006428/saas-sprawl-keeps-growing-with-n= o-end-in-sight.html)) ###**Group therapy**=20 This week, we=E2=80=99re borrowing a couple quotes from our IT Operations S= urvey to stand in for our usual =E2=80=9CIT horror story=E2=80=9D section. = But don=E2=80=99t worry, they definitely qualify. Check out the whole repor= t [here](https://www.rippling.com/resources/it-operations-survey-2025?rtlid= =3D00QUd00000QcSfRMAV). 1. ) =E2=80=9CTwo weeks ago, an employee=E2=80=99s laptop failed to sync wi= th Intune during onboarding. We had to manually provision accounts across f= ive applications, delaying their access and causing the team to miss a crit= ical project deadline.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 IT Manager=20 2. ) =E2=80=9CWe created a shared Excel spreadsheet that tracked every empl= oyee=E2=80=99s app access. IT staff manually updated it every time someone = joined, left, or changed roles=E2=80=94essentially a mini identity manageme= nt system just to keep track of all the tools.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 IT Manage= r=20 3. ) =E2=80=9COur team developed a convoluted =E2=80=98Spreadsheet of Truth= =E2=80=99 that requires a specialist to manually copy, paste, and reformat = between our disconnected HR system and a dozen other applications. This fra= gile process is so essential yet absurd that we=E2=80=99ve nicknamed the pe= rson who runs it our =E2=80=98Human API.=E2=80=99=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 IT Dir= ector=20 *As always, though, we=E2=80=99d love to hear from you. Do you have an IT h= orror story?**=C2=A0*[*Share h*](https://forms.gle/rhibFZX4B9emGXPXA)[*ere = to be featured*](https://forms.gle/rhibFZX4B9emGXPXA)*=C2=A0in a future iss= ue.* [ **Tell your story**](https://forms.gle/rhibFZX4B9emGXPXA) If all this is resonating with you, there=E2=80=99s still time to wine abou= t all your SaaD woes later today! Join us for a glass of vino (or three) at= the link below. We=E2=80=99re all out of tasting boxes, but every attendee= will still be entered to win an annual wine club membership.=C2=A0[Registe= r n](https://priorityexperiences.com/pages/rippling-it-s-saadmin-sessions-l= et-s-wine-about-it)[ow!](https://priorityexperiences.com/pages/rippling-it-= s-saadmin-sessions-let-s-wine-about-it) ###**Want free swag?** We=E2=80=99re building a community of IT heroes on our channels in=C2=A0[Ma= cAdmins](https://join.slack.com/t/macadmins/shared_invite/zt-352ap8ifr-v86Y= rFJjxYQ1YIo2M8OmAA)=C2=A0and=C2=A0[Spiceworks](https://community.spiceworks= .com/c/vendors/rippling-it/426). Jump in, say hi, and drop the phrase **=E2= =80=9CThe IT Factor sent me=E2=80=9D** in a comment or post. We=E2=80=99ll = send you a free IT Hero T-shirt, no strings attached. [Tell a friend](https://www.rippling.com/the-it-factor?SubRef=3Dalvarochf@t= raceseis.com) [Terms Apply](https://app.rippling.com/legal/promoterms?rtlid=3D00QUd00000Q= cSfRMAV) If you received this newsletter via an email forward, =C2=A0[Subscribe Here= ](https://www.rippling.com/the-it-factor) [Service Terms](https://app.rippling.com/legal?rtlid=3D00QUd00000QcSfRMAV "= Service Terms")=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0|=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0[Privacy Policy](https:= //app.rippling.com/legal/privacy?rtlid=3D00QUd00000QcSfRMAV)[=C2=A0](https:= //app.rippling.com/privacy)=C2=A0=C2=A0|=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0[Unsubscribe](htt= ps://www.rippling.com/06741456066933719627-22348?email-type=3Dnewsletter "U= nsubscribe") 430 CALIFORNIA ST, SF, CA 94104 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Rippling Insurance | CA: 0M36087 | NPN: 18578689 [override](https://r.see.rippling.com/mk/un/v2/sh/WCPxRrWByckThluAc3ZDUbPNC= iXKR1KI/H3BNSGnCv16g) ---------?=_18067-6363123380699 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 The SaaD state of affairs: Ho= w software sprawl slows down IT teams<= !--[if !mso]><= /head>
3D"Rippling

OCTOBER =C2=A02025
=
<= /a>
<= tr> =
=C2=AD

Matt Lombardo=

Editor

As always,= I=E2=80=99m still wishing a very happy Tuesday to IT pros one and all.


But if I sound somber, it=E2=80=99s because we=E2=80=99re here= to talk about=C2=A0SaaD. Software as a Disservice.=C2=A0


It=E2=80=99= s a new name for a familiar problem. The endless proliferation of siloed po= int-solution software has found its way into just about every corner of eve= ry organization, and IT teams are well-acquainted with the time that gets w= asted trying to wrangle a bunch of tools and systems that don=E2=80=99t coo= perate.=C2=A0


And just like it=E2=80=99s taken over our pro= fessional lives, this week, it=E2=80=99s taking over this newsletter. So we= lcome to the Disservice Dispatch. We=E2=80=99ve got a lot to cover.=C2=A0


Today=E2=80=99s agenda:=C2=A0

=F0=9F=97=B3=EF=B8=8F What hundreds of IT teams say are the bi= ggest drains on productivity;=C2=A0

=E2=9C=8F=EF=B8=8F A 5-minute self-assessment to help you benchmark you= r IT maturity;

=F0=9F=AA=9C And = how to level up using our IT Ops Maturity Matrix.=C2=A0
<= /td>
<= tr>

We surveyed hundreds of IT pros to quantify how software sprawl was aff= ecting their day-to-day, and we=E2=80=99re SaaD to report that it filled *t= his* report. Jeez.


You know = that feeling when=E2=80=A6

  • A simple task turns into a multi-hour odyssey across a= number of disconnected systems?=C2=A0
  • When you're manually copying the same data into different tools be= cause nothing=E2=80=99s properly integrated?=C2=A0
  • And when that leaves you constantly wondering if you m= issed something that=E2=80=99ll come back to bite you later?=C2=A0

That's not just your Tuesday. = That's everyone's Tuesday.


T= he promise of SaaS was simplicity and speed. What we got instead is a mount= ing execution tax on every little thing. More tools, more manual work, more= time away from anything that actually moves the business forward. Strategi= c work goes on hold while you play =E2=80=9CHuman API=E2=80=9D (a real quot= e that we got back from this survey).=C2=A0


Read the full report to see how all this sprawl is being felt across the industry. You might = recognize your own experience in the data.=C2=A0
=C2=AD
=
=C2=AD

So your systems don=E2=80= =99t sync. You already knew that. Real question is: what=E2=80=99s it costi= ng you?=C2=A0


We built a 10-question IT Maturity Self-Asses= sment to help you benchmark where your team actually stands. You might be:<= /span>

  1. Drowning in spreadshee= ts (i.e., Manual)=C2=A0
  2. Corralling rickety integratio= ns (i.e., Siloed)
  3. Firing on all cylinders (i.e., Full= y Automated)


We=E2=80=99ll tell you which =E2=80=93 and if i= t=E2=80=99s one of the first two, what to do about it.=C2=A0


The assessment ta= kes 2 minutes and gives you a maturity score right away, so you know exactl= y where you stack up. Measure your IT maturity here.

Once you=E2=80=99ve got your score in hand, go a level deepe= r with the full IT Management Maturity Mat= rix. It=E2=80=99s broken down across five critical domains for any = IT org:

  • Onboarding= & Offboarding
  • Policy Manageme= nt
  • Compliance
  • End-User Experience


The matrix gives yo= u a clear picture of where you're operating in each domain =E2=80=93 Manual= , Siloed, or Fully Automated =E2=80=93 and what you can do to level up. Bey= ond the benchmark, it=E2=80=99s a tactical roadmap for getting unstuck.=C2= =A0


Start cl= imbing here.

Some light (on-theme) rea= ding

=E2=9C=85=C2=A0SaaD: SaaS vendors are hiking costs, fast (The Register)=C2=A0

=E2=9C=85=C2=A0S= aaDer: SaaS spending tough for CIOs = to control (The Register)


=E2=9C=85=C2=A0SaaDest: SaaS sprawl keeps growing with no end in= sight (CIO)
=C2=AD
=C2=AD

Group therapy
<= div>

This week, we=E2=80=99= re borrowing a couple quotes from our IT Operations Survey to stand in for = our usual =E2=80=9CIT horror story=E2=80=9D section. But don=E2=80=99t worr= y, they definitely qualify. Check out the whole report here.

=


    ) =E2=80=9CTwo weeks ago, an employee=E2=80=99s laptop fail= ed to sync with Intune during onboarding. We had to manually provision acco= unts across five applications, delaying their access and causing the team t= o miss a critical project deadline.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 IT Manager
  1. ) =E2=80=9CWe created a shared Excel spreadsheet that tracked = every employee=E2=80=99s app access. IT staff manually updated it every tim= e someone joined, left, or changed roles=E2=80=94essentially a mini identit= y management system just to keep track of all the tools.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93= IT Manager
  2. ) =E2=80=9COur team developed a convolute= d =E2=80=98Spreadsheet of Truth=E2=80=99 that requires a specialist to manu= ally copy, paste, and reformat between our disconnected HR system and a doz= en other applications. This fragile process is so essential yet absurd that= we=E2=80=99ve nicknamed the person who runs it our =E2=80=98Human API.=E2= =80=99=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 IT Director


As always, though, we=E2=80=99d love to hear from yo= u. Do you have an IT horror story?=C2=A0Share here to be featured= =C2=A0in a future issue.
Tell your story


If all this is= resonating with you, there=E2=80=99s still time to wine about all your Saa= D woes later today! Join us for a glass of vino (or three) at the link belo= w. We=E2=80=99re all out of tasting boxes, but every attendee will still be= entered to win an annual wine club membership.=C2=A0Registe= r now!=


=C2=AD

Want free swag?

We=E2=80=99re building a community of IT heroes on our channels in=C2=A0= MacAdmins=C2=A0and=C2=A0Spiceworks. Jump in, say hi, and drop the phrase =E2=80=9CThe IT Facto= r sent me=E2=80=9D in a comment or post. We=E2=80=99ll send you a = free IT Hero T-shirt, no strings attached.

Tell a frien= d

= Terms Apply
=
= =C2=AD
=
=C2=AD
=C2=AD

If you received this newsletter via an email forward, =C2=A0<= u>Subscribe Here

Service Terms=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2= =A0|=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0Privacy Policy= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0|=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0Unsubscribe<= /p>
=
<= td class=3D"r21-i" style=3D"color: #181818; font-family: Basel; font-size: = 0px; line-height: 0px;">

430 CALIFORNIA ST, SF, CA 94104=

=C2=A0

=C2=A0=

Rippling Insurance | CA: 0M36087 | NPN: 185786= 89
=
---------?=_18067-6363123380699--